President Rodrigo Duterte taunted Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for his continued attack on the administration’s refusal to antagonize China for its incursions in Philippine maritime territory.

In his arrival speech, Duterte said if Carpio felt he was more intelligent than the president, he should not be at Padre Faura but in Malacanang.

“Kung mas bright itong mga justices, itong mga putang inang’to, siya ‘yung presidente ngayon. Hindi ako. Totoo. If you are smart more than enough you claimed to be, then why are you there? Why am I here?” said Duterte.

Duterte did not specify any magistrate but he was obviously alluding to Carpio who has needled Duterte for the last two years for refusing assert the Philippines’ victory in its protest against China at the United Nations Tribunal Court.

Duterte has refused to assert the Philippines’ right to the disputed islands because he had been warned by China President Xi Jinping that it would be a declaration of war.

Duterte said he would handle the China crisis his way because he was the president and Carpio was a magistrate.

“Me, I am here. I’m going to serve my country. This is the last chapter sa buhay ko. I will dedicate it for the service of my country. Good or bad, you may not like it, but itong bayan ko. Last chapter ko na ‘to,” he said.